LALESTON & BROADLANDS
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Laleston Gardening Club: The past 18 months have proved very difficult for all organisations and Laleston Gardening Club is no exception.
Forward planning has been a nightmare due to uncertainty about the Covid situation and members will rightly wonder about the year ahead.
Sue Ford, the Club’s Chairman, has been mindful of this and throughout the pandemic has produced a series of newsletters which have kept members in touch with any developments at Cliff Cottage. An informative newsletter has recently been produced by Sue and has been distributed to all members either electronically, by post or by hand.
The newsletter broached the subject of the ever increasing number of members of Laleston Gardening Club, some 220 members having enlisted or rejoined last year and over 150 in the early stages of this current membership year (Sept 2021 - Sept 2022).Although it is a good problem to have, the Club doesn’t have the capacity to cope with excessive numbers when it comes to functions, trips, lectures etc. For insurance purposes, the capacity of the hall is 60, but Covid restrictions demand we lower this to smaller groups. Consequently, and with regret, the Committee has decided that the Club will have to close its membership book in the near future. Full details are included in the newsletter, but this is a reminder that time is of the essence for those wishing to renew or take up membership. Any decision on a date to close the membership book will be communicated through the usual channels.
Another topic covered in the newsletter is the measures that have to be taken by the Club to provide the level of ventilation that will be needed to hold meetings and lectures in the hall whilst complying with Covid regulations. Sue has researched the matter and established the Club needs to have windows in the main hall that open and supply fresh air, preferably a medical standard air purifier and a CO2 monitor to ensure the air quality is safe. Funding grants are being sought at the moment to supplement Club funds to put these things in place. Without these measures it will not be possible to use the hall during the winter months.
On a brighter note, a Covidcompliant Christmas Fayre Fund Raiser is planned for the November 13 following the same format as last year. Our President, Margaret Worgan, has made provisional inquiries regarding a venue for a Christmas Dinner, details to follow later.
The newsletter stressed the importance of the forthcoming
AGM. Last year there was no AGM, only end of year reports. This year the AGM is scheduled for Friday, October 8. It will take place at 7.30pm, but there will be a limit on numbers able to attend so anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact Sue Ford as soon as possible.
The newsletter concluded with a sincere thank you to the membership for their support and forbearance during these difficult times.
Bridgend Lions Community Book Stall:
In Bridgend Indoor Market on Saturdays throughout the month of October – 2, 9, 16 and 23 – and this coming Saturday, September 25, there will be lots more bargain books and jigsaws for sale to help the Lions with their fundraising activities.
It is hoped a large two-day Book Sale will take place at Westward Community Centre at the end of October.